The Canuck Way
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Three takeaways from Canucks 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay Lightning

By Joshua Rey

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 13: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning stops a shot from Jason Dickinson #18 of the Vancouver Canucks during a game at Amalie Arena on January 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 13: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning stops a shot from Jason Dickinson #18 of the Vancouver Canucks during a game at Amalie Arena on January 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 13: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes a save during a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Amalie Arena on January 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 13: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes a save during a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Amalie Arena on January 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

#3: The power play looked poor

The Canucks were good at five-on-five but their power play wasn’t good. They went 0/4 on the night.

For their first three power plays, they had good control. However, the team wasn’t shooting the puck often. When they did shoot the biscuit, the shots usually missed the net. On their fourth power play, the Canucks had trouble setting up. Apparently, there was only one shot on Vasilevsky on their four power play attempts. That is not good enough and Boudreau made that clear.

“I think sometimes we’re trying to be too cute and that’s got to change,” said Boudreau on the power play per Thomas Drance of The Athletic. Boudreau also blamed himself for putting the same personnel on the man advantage.

So it looks like we might see the power play units changed up for the next game. Also, playing Pettersson net-front just doesn’t work. It’s just not his style.

Boudreau was right about the power play being too cute. There were way too many passes and the constant passing also led to giveaways. It looked like the Canucks were trying to find the perfect time to shoot on the power play. Boudreau has said he wants a shoot-first power play and that’s what needs to happen.

Other notes

  • Quinn Hughes played well. (Though you could probably harp on him for the last two Lightning goals.) His skating was once again smooth and it looked even better on Thursday. He made some good defensive plays including stopping Nikita Kucherov on the right-side half wall on a third period Tampa Bay power play.
  • The Pettersson-Horvat-Garland line had a 80.95 Corsi for percentage against the Lightning.

Canucks lose to the Panthers with resiliency, not by relinquishing. dark. Next

The Canucks tough road trip continues as they head to Raleigh to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Set your alarms for this one as puck drop is at 10:00 AM.

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